Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic does not have any HIV-specific entry or immigration ban. There is no HIV testing at ports of entry, and immigration officers do not ask about HIV status.

The Dominican Republic Ministry of Health has  confirmed that there is no entry ban for people living with HIV. 

The website of the Dominican Republic government states that visa applications require a ‘medical certification that the petitioner does not have any infectious or contagious diseases.’ However, said certificate does not include HIV testing or disclosing and only applies. 

We are aware of some official restrictions on short-term stay of people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic.

While medical examinations are required to apply for residency, such examinations do not include HIV testing. 

Dominican law protects the rights and privacy of people living with HIV. It is illegal to require anyone, Dominican or foreigner, to disclose their HIV status or to force them to take an HIV test. The law permits mandatory HIV testing only in specific cases: criminal investigations, blood or organ donation, or during pregnancy.

Although the law prohibits the use of HIV testing for employee screening, a country report published by the US Government points out that “Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reported that workers in various industries faced mandatory HIV testing. Sometimes workers were tested without their knowledge or consent. Many job applicants found to have HIV were not hired, and some of those already employed were dismissed from their jobs or denied adequate health care.”

The same restrictions apply for long-term stays on people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic.

UNAIDS reports that people living with HIV are denied residency permits.

According to the US Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs, “some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of the Dominican Republic.” UNAIDS reports that entry is denied on the basis of HIV status. It is not clear when the ban was lifted. 

The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. 

The HIV and AIDS Law No. 135-11 of 7 June 2011 establishes a universal right to HIV treatment regardless of nationality. It prohibits discrimination in healthcare access on the basis of HIV status and places obligations on the state to provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) through the national programme. On paper, this law applies to everyone on Dominican soil.

However on 6 April 2025, President Luis Abinader implemented a set of migration-related measures, including a “Procedure for the management of health services for foreign patients.” This protocol requires foreigners to present identification, a passport with a valid visa, a work card issued by the Directorate of Migration, and proof of home address as requirements for hospital admission. Foreigners who do not present these documents face being arrested and deported after receiving care.

Crucially, the Dominican State acknowledged that no one may be deprived of emergency medical care. Anyone who fails to present the required documentation would receive medical care but would be deported immediately after being discharged.

For travellers, the practical situation is:

• Bringing your own ART supply is strongly advisable for any trip. Importing personal medication for personal use is generally permitted but you should carry documentation (prescription/doctor’s letter).
• If you needed emergency hospital care, you would be treated — but as a foreign national without documentation issues you would be expected to pay (as the protocol sets fees for services). A tourist with a valid passport is unlikely to face deportation risk, as the protocol is primarily aimed at undocumented migrants.

Documented migrants with valid ID, work permits and proof of address can in principle access public health services, including HIV treatment but will face a healthcare system under significant strain from both domestic policy shifts and the PEPFAR funding disruptions of 2025.

For treatment information and direction to services, contact ‘Consejo Nacional para el VIH y el SIDA (CONAVIHSIDA)’.

• UNAIDS
• US Department of State
• Migration Department
• Foreign Affairs Service Portal
• HIV and AIDS Law No. 135-11 of 7 June 2011
• National Council for HIV and AIDS (CONAVIHSIDA)